Inside Nigeria

Malabu Oil Scandal: Court Grants Adoke N50m Bail, Orders Dan Etete’s Arrest

An Abuja High Court has granted former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke bail in the sum of N50m and one surety.

According to the ruling on Thursday, the surety must be a Nigerian citizen with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

The surety must also appear with the defendant throughout the period of trial.

Adoke was asked to deposit his international passport with the Registrar of the court.

Justice Idris Kutigi who gave the ruling also granted bail to the second defendant, Aliyu Abubakar in the sum of N50m with two sureties who must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

Abubakar is also to deposit his international passport with the Registrar of the court.

The  Judge stressed that any breach of the bail conditions during Abubakar’s trial will lead to immediate revocation.

The sureties are also expected to attend the trial with the defendant.

Similarly, the third defendant, Rasky Gbinigie has been granted bail in the sum of N10m with one surety.

Mr Gbinigie was asked to sign an undertaking not to interfere with the trial or further investigation by the EFCC.

According to the court’s ruling on Thursday, Mr Gbinigie’s surety must produce his/her three years tax clearance certificate.

Meanwhile, the court also ordered the arrest of former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete over his involvement in the Malabu Oil scam.

The Prosecutor, Bala Sanga, in an exparte application informed the court that the arrest of Mr Etete is key to unearthing the truth about the Malabu oil scam.

Justice Idris Kutigi, while granting the request ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest the former Minister and produce him before the court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier accused Etete and two others of playing roles in the alleged fraudulent allocation of the lucrative Oil Processing Licence 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited in 1998.

The anti-graft agency named Etete, Seidougha, and Amaran as being on the run in the 42 counts of the alleged fraudulent Malabu Oil transactions recently filed against the immediate-past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and six others.

Adoke and others had since pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by Justice Kutigi earlier on Thursday.

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